Some of the finest strength equipment that the world has ever known was made in the basement of an unassuming three-story house located at 17 Bryant Avenue in Springfield, New Jersey. This was the home of Andy Jackson and the Jackson International Barbell Company.

Jackson did all the work himself in the machine shop in his basement (shown above.) Other companies certainly sold quality equipment but it was Jackson’s incredible attention to detail which set him apart. Each barbell he sold was hand-crafted by Andy Jackson himself and in order to make sure his barbell plates were accurate, Jackson weighed each one and if need be, adjusted the weight accordingly until the weight was true.